Art of making sheet material



Sept. 1, 1931.

c. D. KNOWLTON ART OF MAKING SHEET MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21 1925 INVENTUR. 5% JM P 1931. c. D. l (NOWLTON 1,821,166

ART OF MAKING SHEET MATERIAL.

Filed July 21, 1925 s Sheets-Shegat 2 P 1931- c. D. KNOWLTON 1 1,821,166

ART OF MAKING SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 21, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 6'8 L I 70 L /NVENTUR.

mw/zm Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTLER D. KNOWLTON', OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY Application filed July 21,

, the center of the metal under'treatment, the

sheets produced have along their lengths,

as considered with reference to the travel through the rolls, areas of varying thickness, while transversely of the sheets, the edges throughout their lengths are thinner than the intermediate ortions. When this stock is utilized for ma ing various articles, for example eyelets, it is found that there are introduced irregularities in form, especially at thelarger end or bell of the eyelets. The necessity for rejecting articles with such defects leads to considerable loss.

An object of my invention is to produce sheet-material which is of approximately uniform thickness over its entire area, any departures from the desired gage being too small to effect harmfully articles which are to be produced from the material.

In attaining this object, the present invention provides a method which involves applying pressure to the material to reduce its thickness, and maintaining at a substantially constant thickness the sheet produced by varying the pressure in accordance with a condition of said material determined before the completion of the pressure operation. Thus, regardless of whether thick or thin stock is being acted uponand whether it is hard or soft, the reducing force is of such magnitude as best to give the desired results. This procedure, alone, is effective in freeing the sheets from the variations spaced longitudinally. The preferred manner of operation consists in generating a constant force and applying it to reduce the material, to the effect of which constant force is added ART OF MAKING SHEET MATERIAL 1925. Serial No. 45,080.

a varying force up to the necessary maximum, this variable bein independently generated and best determined by the reaction of the material itself.

The transverse variations of the sheet, or those which consist of longitudinal bands of different thicknesses, as at the edges of the sheet and toward the center, I most effective- 1y remove in my method by applying to the material, simultaneously with the reducin pressure, a force suflicient to elongate sai material permanently over a portion only of the width, such drawing force acting upon said material before its reduction and substantially independently of the reducing pressure. Preferably, opposite and substantially equal forces are imposed upon the material at opposite sides of the reduced area. Most effectively, there are applied drawing or stretching forces caused by retarding the advance of the material and having a predetermined relation to the elastic limits of the material. The opposite force is one of tension. By choosing such forces with consideration for the characteristics of the longitudinal bands, or so that the thin or edge-portions will be stretched beyond their elastic limits, while the thicker or-centerportion is stretched to not materially more than the elastic limit, the edges may be deformed permanently and thereby lengthened, while the thicker portions will resume their form when relieved from the strain. Were these differences in length of the material not provided by the drawing action, the greater elongation under the influence of the reducing pressure of the thicker material in the central band of the sheet would cause said sheet to be distorted, and imperfections produced.

My improved method may be carried out effectively by an apparatus of my invention, this having opposite pressure members, as a pair of rotatable rolls, to which a varying pressure is applied under the influence of the material acted upon. Uniformity of the material, this being especially true longitudinally of the sheet, is assured by maintrolled by the reaction generated in their rotation. Herein, fluid-pressure means is illustrated for furnishing the variable force, this being automatically controlled by the reaction of the rolls to rotation during the reducing operation. Means is preferably provided for governing automatically the quantity of fluid in the pressure-system.

I have provided by my invention means by which the elongation of the material by drawing may be performed, it being most advantageously employed in connection with material in extended sheets or strips. It includes a rotatable supplying member, and a rotatable winding member arranged to re ceive material fromthe supplying member, there being means for applying approximately equal forces at the members to draw the material and increase the length permanently at certain portions only. Both the members may be in the form of rotatable reels, the rotation of the supplying reel being resisted with a certain force, while a substantially equal force is applied at the winding reel. Since, in the operation, the forces may vary, because, for example, of varying diameters of the coils of material upon the reels, there is included means for maintaining said forces substantially constant. Preferably, this control is exercised under the influence of the material. The embodiment of the invention which I have chosen to show for accomplishing this has means for supporting the rolls for bodily movement; and as their position tends to .change because of differences in the diameters of the coils or other variations in the system, this affects means which controls the applied forces. In the present instance, I have disclosed friction devices for resisting movement of the supplyin reel and transmitting movement to the wlnding reel, the frictional eflect of these devices being altered through connections acted upon in the bodily movement of the reels.

A particular form of an improved apparatus by which my method may be performed is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows the apparatus in broken per.- spective, looking at the outgoing side of the pressure-rolls 'Fig. 2 is an elevation of the opposite portion of the machine from that seen in Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 arevertical sections on the lines 3-3 and 44, respectively, of Fig. 2.

Near one extremity of a base 10 is shown the frame of a rolling mill R, which has vertical uprights 12, 12 separated from each other and connected by an upper cross-bar 14. Extending along each of the uprights are opposite vertical ways 16, 16, at the bottom-portions of which are held -lower bearing-blocks 18 for the journals 20 of 21.

lower roll or pressure member 22. Above the roll 22 is a co-operating roll 24, between the journals 26 of which and the journals.

20 of the roll 22 are spacing-blocks 28 guided in the ways 16. These blocks 28 may each be made up of separated sections having interposed some such adjusting means as wedges 30. The wedges, by movement laterally of the uprights, may be caused to change the distance between the bearingsections, and therefore the space between the rolls at the bite. Opposite screws 32, 32, threaded through the uprights and contacting with the ends of the wedges, permit their adjustment. At their upper sides, the journals 26 bear against blocks 34 movable at the tops of the ways 16. The rolls and their journals are preferably so organized that their tendency to produce variations in thickness, considered transversely of the stock, under rolling pressure will be negligible. This is to prevent departure from uniformity of the material acted upon, because of an increase in thickness at the center due to the springing apart of the rolls at this point.

It is desired to maintain between the rolls av constant operating space to give freedom .from variation in thickness from point to vpoint longitudinally of the sheet of material which is being reduced. The spacing-bearings readily may be so made that they will not yield materiallyunder the forces applied to the upper bearings to resist the separation of the rolls. It is necessary, however, to lubricate the journals, and the oil-film may change in thickness under the pressure; Compression of the lubricant between the bearing-block 28 and the journals might allow the rolls to approach each other more closely than normal. Similarly, forces exerted on the films between the journals and the blocks 18 and 34 might lead to an undue separation of the rolls, as would also elongation of the frame members 12. If, for example, a hard area in the material operated on were encountered, or a thicker portion, the tendency would be to force the rolls from each other, increasing the space at the bite and producing an over-thick section in the sheet. A soft area or one thinner than normal would have the effect of allowing an approach of the rolls and a thinner rolling action.

To counteract the tendency to change above described, I automatically maintain the space between the rolls constant, varying the pressure upon them as the material under treatment changes. Rising from each of the bearing-blocks 34 is a cylindrical projection 36 providing a piston movable in a. cylinder 38 formed at the corresponding end of the top bar 14. Opening into the upper portion of each cylinder is a branch from apressure-conduit 40; connecting at itsopposite extremity with a horizontal cylinder 42 formed in a pedestal 44 carried by the base and having movable in it a piston 46. The pressure system, including the cylinders 38 and 42 and the connecting conduit, is filled with some suitable fluid, preferably a liquid, as oil, and the piston 46 is arranged to be forced into its cylinder to exert upon the pistons 36 both a constant pressure and an additional variable pressure, the latter governed by the reaction offered by the rolls to the force which drives them. The rotation of these rolls 22 and 24 and the pressure-controlling movement of the piston 46 are obtained in the following manner: The roll 22 is joined by a universal coupling 48 to a shaft 50 mounted to turn in fixed bearings 52. The roll 24 is similarly coupled to a shaft 54 rotatable in an arm 56 arranged to turn about the shaft 50. Near its upper extremity, the-arm 56 is connected by a link 58 to the piston 46. A pair of intermeshing pinions 60, 60 upon the shafts 50 and 54 associate the rolls 22 and 24 for opposite rotation, the pinion of the shaft 50 being driven through reduction-gearing 62 from a motor 64. A downward extension 66 of the arm 56 is shown as having an angular portion68 extending ina generally horizontal direction and carrying a weight 70, preferably adjustable along the lever to permit its eflect to be altered. Upon the shaft 54, the weight 70 exerts a constant tendency to move it bodily about the fulcrum of the lever 66, and thus carry the piston 46 into its cylinder, compressing the fluid in the system and exerting a constant pressure upon the pistons 36. The journals of the rolls and the spacing-bearing are thus forced together under a definite pressure, which may be approximately the minimum force required to reduce the thickness of the material. As said material passes between the rolls as a result of their rotation, a resistance is offered to the driving or operating force which will tend to move the shaft 54 bodily in the same direction as does the Weight 70, this force of reaction being proportional to the resistance encountered. Consequently, as thicker or harder areas of material are operated upon, the piston 46 will be urged with a corresponding force into its cylinder, and the fluid in the system will transmit to the cylinders 38 forces which will be suflicient to maintain the rolls against separation. If, on the other hand, the resistance to rolling decreases, the re: action exerts a diminished forceupon the pistons, lessening the pressure upon the rolls so that the vspace between them will not be narrowed. At all times there is applied to the rolls the force necessary to insure their distance from one another remaining the same, with the result that the reduced material will be free from inequalities at points successively acted upon.

Because, for example, of leakage from the system of the pressure-transmitting fluid, the quantitymight vary. A decrease in the quantity would permit the piston 46 to move farther into its cylinder, so that the shaft 54 would travel to the right (Fig. 4), out of its normal position. To prevent this, a source of fluid-supply is joined to the system through a conduit 72, in which is maintained a pressure suflicient at all times to compel the entrance of fluid to the pressure-system when the way is opened for the flow. Interposed between the conduit 72 and the conduit 40- is a valve, consisting of a plunger 74 movable in a casing 76 lying horizontally at the'top of the pedestal 44. The plunger is connected to a head -78, through which the piston 46 may be joined to the link 58. The ends of the plunger are of such diameter as to fill the casing, preventingthe flow of fluid by them. Adjacent to the ends are reduced portions 80 and 82, separated by a portion 84 equal in diameter to the ends. In the normal working position of the rolls, the forces acting upon the arm 56 so hold the valve that the portion 84 is opposite and closes an outlet-port, with which communicates a branch'86 of the conduit 40. The

supply-conduit 72 terminates in a port opening into the space about the plunger-portion 80, while from a port associated with the portion.82 leads an exhaust-conduit 88. If the quantity of fluid in the pressure-system is reduced sufii'ciently to cause the forces acting to move the head 7 8 until the valve-portion 84 is carried to the right (Fig. 1) ofthe port opening from the pressure-conduit, said. conduit .is connected to the supply-conduit, the fluid entering the system and acting upon the piston 46 to restore said piston to.

normal. At the same time, the port for the pressure-conduit is closed by movement of the valve to the left. Obviously, leakage might occur from the supply-conduit 7 2 into the system, in which case the shaft 54 would be carried bodily in the opposite direction to that 'just described. Under such conditions, the pressure-conduit is joined to the exhaust-conduit 88 through the valveportion 82, the excess of fluid permitted to escape, and the elements carried back to the proper working position.

The manner of producing sheet-material just described, while eliminating the irregularities longitudinally of the sheet which are caused by variations in the spacing of the rolls present in the usual procedure, still leaves the edges of the sheet freer to expand than is the center. is between the bite of the rolls a body of material, lateral movement of which is resisted by whatever outer portions are grasped between the rolls. The extent of this outer This is because there material, and therefore the resistance offered to outward flow, decreases as the edges are approached. As a result of this, the sheets are crowned transversely, with their outer longitudinal portions thinner than their centers. A similar defect may be produced by the springing from each other under the operating pressure of the centers of the rolls, when these and their journals are not properly constructed. If an attempt be made to reduce these centrally thickened sheets to uniformity by passing them through constantly spaced rolls, other .defects are introduced. If the material is to be kept fiat,

changes in length under the influence of the rolls must be the same at all points transversely of the sheet. When, however, a longitudinall extended portion, as a central band, is tl iicker than the edges, its elongation will be greater. On account of this, at the incoming side of the rolls the central excess of material is held back, accumulating until folds are produced and the sheet is broken. At the opposite side, the material tends to emerge from the middle of the rolls more rapidly than at the sides, and the sheet is distorted in a longitudinal series of waves. I correct this condition by application to the sheet of drawing or stretching forces which have predetermined deforming effects upon different portions, which may be considered as longitudinal bands of indeterminate width transversely of the sheet. Such a drawing force may be furnished at the incoming side of the rolls 22, 24 by a resistance to the advance of the material operated upon, and, since this is shown as in the form of a rolled strip, it is supported by a supplying roll or reel 90, the spindle of which is journaled in a bell-crank lever 92 fulcrumed upon the base. Rotation of the supplying roll is resisted by a friction device including a drum 94 mounted to turn upon a pedestal 96-and united to the reelspindle by a universal connection 98. Engaging the periphery'of the drum is a brakeband 100, one end of which is fixed at 102 to the base, while the other extremity is secured to an arm 104 fast upon the spindle 106, to which the lever 92 is fastened. At the outgoing side of the rolls 22 and 24, I- have shown means for applying to the forward portion of the sheet a pull substantially equal to the retarding force set up at the reel 90, this tension being through a receiving or winding roll or reel 108 with its spindle turning in a bell-crank lever 110 pivoted upon the base. A universal connection 112 unites the reel 108 through a clutch 114 to a shaft 116 geared at 118 to the reducing gearing 62. The rotation imparted to the driving portion of the clutch is in excess of that necessary to turn the reel at a peripheral speed equal to'that at which the 5 material is urged forward by the reducing rolls. The clutch is of such a character, as one having interleaved disks, that its driving effect may be controlled by permitting it to slip to a greater or less extent. To vary the slip of the clutch, its driven section 120 is movable longitudinally of its shaft, being engaged by a yoke 122 at the end of one arm of a bell-crank lever 124 fulcrumed upon the base. crank has articulated to it a rod 126 guided by a bracket 128 and carrying at its end opposite the lever a. roll 130. This roll contacts with a cam-surface 132 projecting from the adjacent side ofthe supporting lever 110 of the winding reel. The bell-crank levers 92 and 110 have substantially horizontal arms which project toward each other, contacting with the extremities of a connecting lever 134 pivoted upon the upper end of a slide 136 movable vertically upon the frame. Against the lower end of the slide, the short arm of a lever 138 fulcrumed beneath the base is forced by a weight 140 variable in position upon the lever to change its effect upon the forces exerted through the levers 92 and 110 to stretch the strip by separation of the supplying and Winding reels. The friction-clutch mechanism, the brake mechanism, and the system of levers under the influence of the weight 140 are so organized that, in absence of disturbing effects, there will be applied to the extremities of the horizontal run of material passing between the rolls 22 and 24 substantially equal forces. The magnitude of this force is so chosen that the thinner longitudinal bands of material toward the opposite edges of the strip between the reels 90 and 108 will be stretched at the incoming side of the rolls 22 and 24 beyond their elastic limits, in excess of which a permanent set is acquired by the material. These thinner portions are therefore permanently elongated. For the thicker por- The other arm of the belltion of the strip, however, the elastic limit is not greatly exceeded, and when the drawing force is removed, approximately .the original form is resumed. Because of this extension'of the thin edges of the strip, the thicker center, which is being held back during reduction by the rolls 22, 24, is allowed to straighten, and the formation of a central wave with consequent rupture of the material is' prevented. The force employed to attain this effect may be substantially equal to the sum of the forces for each unit of width sufficient to stretch beyond the v elastic limit the portions which are to be permanently drawn, and to stretch to not more than the elastic limit the portions which are not to bethus afli'ect'ed'. It will be observed that'the drawing'faction' just described has made the edges of the material somewhat thinner than before, so, at the incoming side of the rolls 22 and 24, the trans creased. But it must also be noted that in the rolling to which the thicker portion of the strip is subjected without drawing, the reduction in thickness for each unit of length is greater than that caused by the drawing of the edges. This difference is due to the fact that in rolling thin material, the increase of width is slight, and the change in thickness produced-is approximately proportional to the change in length, while in drawing, the width as well as the thickness of the material is decreased, so the thickness will be changed less proportionately than the length. Therefore, a relation may be established at which the change in length of the thin portions will be sufficient to com-. pensate for the differences in rate of advance at the incoming side of the rolls due to dif-' ferent thicknesses transversely of the strip plus further differences in thlckness caused by the drawing. During this drawing of the material at the incoming side of the rolls 22, 24;, combined with the pressure reduction by such rolls, the pull-of the strip by the reel 108 at the outgoing side balances the retarding force at the reel 90, keeping this portion of the material flat prior to winding, and preventing rearward slippage between the reducing rolls. This force or tension will not deform the material by stretching at the ortgoing side of the rolls, because the elastic limit has been increased by rolling.

In absence of a correcting action, the'desired balance of forces upon the extremities of the strip might be disturbed; for example, when the diameters of the coils of material upon the supplying reel 90 and winding reel 108 are not equal. The effects of the varying forces influencing the reels are compensated for in the bodily movement of these reels with their levers 110 and 92. Considering, as a particular case, that at or near the beginning of the operation upon a strip of material, the amount upon the reel 108 is less than that u on the reel 90, so that the diameter of t e material at the former is less than at the latter, at such a time there is necessary a firmer application of thebrake-band 100 to the drum 94 than if the diameter of the coil upon the reel 90 were less, and the relatively small diameter of the coil upon the reel 108 calls for a less effective engagement of the clutch 114 to restore equilibrium. The unbalanced forces in the system tend to move both the lovers 92 and 110 in an anti-clockwise direction, as viewed'in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The lever 92, through the spindle 106, turns the arm 104 to tighten the brake-band, thus applying the necessary correction to the braking force. The lever 110 brings the diminishing surface of the cam 132 in eo-operation with the roll 130, permitting the engagement of the clutch to weaken, and rendering the driving action less effective. In

this manner, the forces applied to the strip between the reels are equalized, this occurring whenever a variation from any source is introduced.

Having described my invention, what- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: k

1. The method of making sheet-material, which consists in applying pressure to the material, and maintaining at a substantial- 1y constant thickness the sheet produced by varying such pressure during the operation in accordance with a condition of the material determined before the completion of the pressure operation.

2. The method of making sheet-material, which consists in applying pressure to the material, and utilizing the reaction produced in such application to vary the pressure during the normal production of a sheet.

3. The method of making sheet-material, which consists in applying pressure to the material, and adding thereto a pressure varying in accordance with the reaction of the material to pressure.

4. The method of operating upon sheet-' material, which consists in applying a reducing pressure to the material, and simultaneously therewith applying a drawing force suflicient to permanently elongate the material over a portion only of its width, such drawing force acting upon said material before its reduction and substantially independently of the reducing pressure.

5. The method of operating upon sheetmaterial, which consists in applying a reducing pressure to the material, and simultaneously therewith applying to the material at opposite sides of the reduced area opposite and substantially equal forces sufficient to permanently elongate the material over a portion only of its width.

. 6. The method of operating upon sheet-- material, which consists in applying a reducing pressure to the material, continuously drawing'forward the material to receive said pressure by a force applied in advance of the area of reducing pressure, and retarding the advance of the material by a force sufiicient to cause its permanent elongation at-its outer edges only and acting before its reduction. 7

7. The method of making sheet-material, which consists in applying to the material reducing pressure, varying the pressure in accordance-with the resistance of said material to pressure determined at the area at which the reduction is taking place, and simultaneously therewith-v applying. to the material a drawing force, said reducing.

45 Y of the material included in sald areas.

terial to pressure determined at the areaat which the reduction 'is taking place, and simultaneously therewith applying to the material forces at opposite sides of the field of reducing pressure and including a drawing force acting at opposite sides of said 10. The method of making sheet-material, which consists in applying to the material reducing pressure varying the pressure in accordance with the resistance of said material to pressure determined at the area at which the reduction is taking place, and simultaneously therewith applying to the material forces at opposite sides of the field of reducing pressure and including a drawing force bearing a predetermined relation to the elastic limits of the material.

11. The method of operating upon sheetmaterial having portions of different thickness, which consists in applying to the material a reducing pressure, and simultaneously therewith applying to the material drawin forces suflicient to permanently deform t inner portions and leave a thicker portion relatively free from deformation.

12. The method of operating on sheetmaterial having longitudinally extending areas varying in thickness in respect to one another, which consists in applying to the areas a reducing pressure and simultaneousl therewith drawing forces bearing a pre etermined relation to the elastic limits 13. The method of operating on sheetmaterial having bands varying in thickness in respect to one another, which consists in apglying to the bands a reducing pressure 7 an simultaneously therewith drawing forces sufi'icient to stretch beyond the elastic limits the material of the bands of less thickness, such drawing forces permitting the thicker portion of the material to return to approximately its original form.

14. The method of operating onsheetmaterial having bands varying in thickness portions of the material and to stretch not materially more than the elastic limit a thicker portion of the material.

15. (An apparatus for producing sheetmaterial comprising opposite pressure members, and means for varying under the influence of the material prior to its emergence from the pressure members the pressure exerted by the members.

16. An apparatus for producing sheetmaterial comprising opposite pressure members, a support for the members in which their relation to each other tends to change, and automatic means under the influence of a pressure member for variably resisting such tendency.

17. An apparatus for producing sheet,- material comprising opposite pressure members, a support for the members, means for employing an operating force tending to change the relation of said members, and means controlled from the pressure members for changing the operating force.

18. In a rolling mill, rotatable rolls variable in their distance from one another, and automatic means controlled from the rolls for maintaining the space between said rollsconstant.

19. In a rolling mill, rotatable rolls, means for rotating the rolls, and means controlled and automatic means controlled by variations in such pressure for increasing and decreasing the pressure.

22. In a rolling mill, rotatable rolls, means for rotating the rolls, a fluid-pressure system for forcing the rolls toward each other, and connections under the influence of the reaction of the rotating means for varying the pressure in the system.

23. In a rolling mill, rotatable rolls, a fluid-pressure system for forcing the rolls toward each other, automatic means for controlling the 'fiuid pressure inthe system, and automatic means fbr controlling the quantity of fluid in the system.

24. In a rolling mill, rotatable rolls, means for rotating the rolls, a fluid-presother, and connections under the influence of the reaction of the rotating means for varying the fluid in the system.

25.'In a rolling mill, rotatable rolls, means for rotating the rolls, a fluid-presa sure system for forcing the rolls toward each siire system for forcing the rolls toward each other, and connections under the influence of the reaction of the rotating means for varying the pressure and quantity of fluid in the system.

26. In a rolling mill, rotatable rolls, means for rotating the rolls, a fluid-pressure system for forcing the rolls toward each other, automatic means for controlling the fluid pressure in the system, connections arranged to deliver fluid to the system, and a valve governing the flow through the connections and being joined to the rotating means.

27. In a rolling mill, rotatable rolls having journals, a spacing-bearing between the rolls, means for producing a substantially constant pressure between the roll-journals and bearing, and means for applying a variable pressure to the rolls.

28. In a rolling mill, rotatable rolls having journals, a spacing-bearing between the rolls, means for producing a substantially constant pressure between the roll-journals and bearing, and means acting under the influence of the material for applying a variable pressure to the rolls.

29. In a rolling mill, rotatable rollshaving journals, a spacing-bearing between the roll-journals, means for producing a substantially constant pressure between the rolljournals and bearing, means for applying a variable pressure to the rolls, and means for varying the pressure in accordance with the resistance of the material to pressure determined at the area at which the rolls are act- 30. In a rolling mill, rotatable rolls having journals, a spacing-bearing between the roll-journals, means for producing a substantially constant pressure between the rolljournals and the bearing, means acting under the influence of the material for applying a variable pressure to the rolls, and means for varying the pressure in accordance with the resistance of the material to pressure determined at the area at which the rolls are acting.

31. The combination with a frame, of a pair of rotatable rolls movable in the frame, a spacing-bearing between the rolls, -outer bearings for the rolls, a pressure device act ing upon one of the outer bearings, driving mechanism for the rolls, and actuating connections between the driving mechanism and pressure device.

32. The combination with a frame, of a pair of rotatable rolls movable in the frame, a spacing-bearing between the rolls, outer bearings for the rolls, a pressure device acting upon one of the outer bearings, driving mechanism for the rolls, actuating connections between the driving mechanism and pressure device, and means for applying a constant force to the connections, said force affecting the pressure device through said connections.

33. The combination with a frame, of a pair of rotatable rolls movable in the frame, a spacing-bearing between the rolls, outer bearings for the rolls, a pressure device acting upon one of the outer bearings, driving mechanism for the rolls including a movable bearing, and actuating connections from the movable bearing to the pressure device.

34:. The combination with a frame, of a pair of rotatable rolls movable in the frame, a spacing-bearing between the rolls, outer bearings for the rolls, a cylinder and iston carried by an outer bearing and the rame, mechanism for driving the rolls and including a movable bearing, a piston connected to the last-mentioned bearing, a cylinder in which the piston operates, and a conduit joining the cylinders.

35. The combination with a frame, of a. pair of rotatable rolls movable in the frame, a spacing-bearing between the rolls, outer bearings for the rolls, a cylinder and iston carried by an outer bearing and the rame,

mechanism for driving the rolls and including a movable bearing, a piston connected to the last-mentioned bearing, a cylinder in which the piston operates, a conduit joining the cylinders, a source of fluid, a valve governing the delivery of fluid therefrom to the conduit, and connections between the valve and movable bearing.

36. In an apparatus for drawing material, a rotatable supplying member, a rotatable winding member arranged to receive material from the supplying member, and means Y for applying substantially equal and opposite forces at the members acting to permanently elongate the material at certain portions only.

37. In an apparatus for drawing material, a rotatable supplying reel, a rotatable winding reel arranged to receive material from the supplying reel, means for a plying substantially equal and opposite orces at the reels acting to draw the material, and means arranged to maintain such forces substantially constant.

38. In an apparatus for drawing material, a rotatable supplying reel, a rotatable winding reel for receiving material from the supplying reel, means arranged to resist the rotation of the supplying reel, and means for applying at the winding reel a rotating. 190 force substantially equal to the resistance offered by the supplying reel.

39. In an apparatus for drawing material, a rotatable supplying reel, a rotatable winding reel receiving material from the supplying reel, means for applying substantially equal ar d opposite forces at the reels, and means acting in the movement of the reels to control such forces.

40. In an apparatus fordrawing material, '180 a rotatable supplying reel, a rotatable winding reel receiving material from the supplying reel, supports for the reels organized to allow their bodily movement, means for applying substantially equal and opposite forces at the reels, and means acting in. the bodily movement of the reels to control such forces.

41. In an apparatus for drawing material, a rotatable member arranged to carry material and to apply a drawing force thereto, and means acting under the influence of the material for controllin the drawing force.

42. In an apparatus or drawing material, a rotatable member arranged to carry material in a coil varying in diameter and "to apply a drawing force to said coil, and means governed in accordance with the variations in diameter of the coil for controlling the applied force.

43. In an apparatus for drawing material, a rotatable supplying member, a rotatable winding member arranged to receive material from the supplying member, means for applying substantially equal and opposite forces at the members acting to draw the material, and means acting under the infiuenceof the material for controlling the forces at both the supplying and winding members.

44. In an apparatus for drawing material, a rotatable supplying reel, a rotatable winding reel, both of said reels being arranged to carry material in coils varying in diameter, means for applying opposite and substantially equal forces at the reels acting to draw the material, and means associated respectively with the supplying and winding reels and arranged to control independently the drawing forces in accordance with the diameters of the coils upon the reels.

45. In an apparatus for drawing material, a rotatable member arranged to carry material and to apply a drawing force thereto, and means acting in the movement of the member to control the applied force.

46. In an apparatus for drawing material, a rotatable member arranged to carry material and to apply a drawing force thereto, a support arranged to allow bodily movement of the member, and means acting in the bodily movement of the member to control the applied force.

47. In an apparatus for drawing sheetmaterial, a rotatable reel, a shaft by. which the reel is driven, a movable bearing for the shaft, a friction device acting upon the shaft in its rotation, and connections arranged to vary the frictional effect of the device in the movement of the bearing.

48L In an apparatus for drawing sheetmaterial, a rotatable reel, a shaft by which the reel is driven, a movable bearing for the shaft, a clutch included in the shaft, and

means acting in the movement of the bearing for changing the engagement of the clutch.

49. In an apparatus for drawing sheetmaterial, a rotatable reel, a shaft by which the reel is driven, a movable bearing for the shaft, a brake associated with the shaft, and

means acting in the movement of the bearing for varying the application of the brake.

50. In an apparatus for drawing material, supplying and winding reels, bearings for the reels, means for applying a force to the bearings tending to move the reels relatively, means for driving the winding reel, means for resisting rotation of the supplying reel, and means controlled in the relative movement of'the reels for varying the driving and resisting effect upon said reels.

51. In an apparatus for drawing material, supplying and winding reels, shafts therefor, movable bearings for the reel-shafts, a brake applied to the supplying-reel shaft, a clutch including in the winding-reel shaft, and connections to the bearings for controlling the brake and clutch.

52. An apparatus for operating upon sheet-material comprising opposite members between which the material may pass, means for forcing the members togethir to reduce the thickness of the material, means for exerting upon the material at opposite sides of the members a force sufficient to alter the thickness of said material independently of the reducing action of the members, and automatic means under the influence of the material for controlling the forces exerted.

53. An apparatus for operating upon sheet-material comprising a pair of thickness-reducing members, material-elongating means co-operating with said members, and automatic means under the influence of the material for controlling the forces exerted upon said'material by the thickness-reducing members and elongating means.

54. An apparatus for operating upon sheet-material comprising a pair of reducing rolls between which the material may pass, a material-supplying reel situated at the incoming side of the rolls, a material-receiving reel situated at the outgoing side of the rolls, and means for applying at both reels forces effective to permanently elongate a portion only of the width of the material.

55. An apparatus for operating upon sheet-material comprising a pair of reducing rolls between which the material may pass, automatic means for maintaining between the rolls a constant space, a material-supplying reel situated at the incoming side of the rolls, a material-receiving reel situated at the outgoing side of the rolls, and means for applying at the reels forces effective to draw the material.

56. An apparatus for operating upon sheet-material comprising a pair of reducing rolls between which the material may pass, a material-supplying reel situated at of the rolls, means for applying at the reels forces effective to draw the material, and automatic means for maintaining uniform the forces exerted by the reels.

57 An apparatus for operating upon sheet-material comprising a pair of reducing rolls between Which the material may pass, means under the influence of the material for controlling the relation between the rolls, a material-supplying reel situated at the incoming side of the rolls, a materialreceiving reel situated at the outgoing side of the rolls, means for applying at the reels forces efiective to draw the material, and means governed by movement of the reels for controlling the forces which they exert.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CUTLER D. KNOWLTON. 

